Brief History
The Straits Settlements were
established in 1826 as part of the territories controlled by the British East
India Company, which was based in Calcutta, India.
The Straits Settlements originally
consisted of the three individual settlements of Malacca, Prince of Wales
Island ( now Penang Island ) with the Province Wellesley ( now Seberang Perai
), and Singapore.
On the 1st April 1867 the
Settlements became a British Crown colony, making the Settlements answerable
directly to the Colonial Office in London.
The following territories were
temporary incorporated in the Straits Settlement : Dinding ( 1874 -1935 ),
Christmas Island ( 1900 – 1958 ), Cocos Island ( 1903 – 1955 ), and Labuan (
1907 – 1946 ).
On the 1st April 1946,
Straits Settlement was dissolved.
Coinage History
In the early 19th century,
the most common currency used in the East Indies was the Spanish dollar,
including issues both from Spain and from the new world Spanish colonies, most
significantly Mexico. Locally issued coinages included the Kelantan and
Trengganu keping, and the Penang dollar.
In 1837, the Indian rupee was made
the sole official currency in the Straits Settlements, as it was administered
as part of India. However, Spanish dollars continued to circulate and 1845 saw
the introduction of coinage for the Straits Settlements using a system of 100
cents = 1 dollar.
In 1867, administration of the
Straits Settlements was separated from India and the dollar was made the
standard currency.
King George V
“George V, by the Grace of God, of
Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King,
Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India”
“George
V, Dei Gratia Britanniarum et
terrarum transmarinarum quae in ditione sunt Britannica Rex, Fidei Defensor,
Indiae Imperator”
George V (George Frederick Ernest
Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the
British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 20
January 1936.
Year Minted
|
Value
|
Metal
|
Weight
|
Diameter
|
1916
|
¼c
|
Bronze
|
2.33g
|
18.0mm
|
1916
|
½c
|
Bronze
|
4.66g
|
23.0mm
|
1932
|
½c
|
Bronze
|
2.91g
|
18.5mm
|
1919-1926
|
1c
|
Bronze
|
5.85g
|
21.5mm
|
1918-1920
|
5c
|
Silver 0.4
|
1.36g
|
16.0mm
|
1920
|
5c
|
Co-ni
|
4.0g
|
20.0mm
|
1926-1935
|
5c
|
Silver 0.6
|
1.35g
|
16.0mm
|
1916-1927
|
10c
|
Silver 0.6
|
2.71g
|
18.0mm
|
1918-1920
|
10c
|
Silver 0.4
|
2.71g
|
18.0mm
|
1926-1927
|
10c
|
Silver 0.6
|
2.71g
|
18.0mm
|
1916-1917
|
20c
|
Silver 0.6
|
5.43g
|
23.8mm
|
1919
|
20c
|
Silver 0.4
|
5.43g
|
23.8mm
|
1926-1935
|
20c
|
Silver 0.6
|
5.43g
|
23.8mm
|
1920-1921
|
50c
|
Silver 0.5
|
8.42g
|
28.5mm
|
1919-1926
|
$1
|
Silver 0.5
|
16.85g
|
34.1mm
|
¼¢
|
½¢
|
1¢
|
5¢
|
10¢
|
20¢
|
50¢
|
$1
|
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1916
|
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1917
|
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1918
|
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1919
|
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1920
|
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1921
|
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1926
|
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1927
|
√
|
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1932
|
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1935
|
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